Dehradun: Empty plots in the city have turned into unofficial garbage dumping grounds, raising fears of mosquito-borne diseases spreading in the area, claim Doon locals.
Residents claim that in almost all residential localities, any empty plot becomes a place for locals and passersby to dump garbage. “Often, it’s the neighbours only who end up dumping waste in the empty plots either late at night or early in the morning. They, however, fail to realise that the accumulated waste during rains can become a mosquito-breeding ground, putting the entire neighbourhood at risk,” said Mahesh Bhandari, president, Doon Residents’ Welfare Front. “Meanwhile, the nagar nigam doesn’t do anything as these are private plots. It’s imperative that these spaces be cleaned and those found disposing waste penalised,” added Bhandari.
Residents said that the situation is common in several localities like Dalanwala, Race Course, Rajendra Nagar, Sahastradhara Road, Indra Nagar, Ballupur, Nehru Colony etc. where the property owners are living in other cities or countries, and empty plots are left unattended for years.
“An elderly couple here has been complaining about accumulated garbage in the plot next to theirs for a year now. Complaints have fallen on deaf ears. The land owners live elsewhere. No one takes any responsibility. Meanwhile, the patch has become an unsanitary health hazard. There is no fogging being done either. If RWA tries to penalise anyone, we are opposed,” said DD Arora, RWA president, Rajendra Nagar. Meanwhile, officials of the Dehradun Municipal Corporation said that they cannot take action on private property unless a person is caught littering red-handed and only then can they be penalised under the anti-littering Act.